Your personal letter of October 27 to Admiral Sims has just been received,1 and as he is absent in Paris I will make a preliminary reply leaving it to him to answer in full on his return.2

The matter of Armistice terms is of course under discussion now in Paris, and I have no idea whether the occupation of Heligoland will be made one of the conditions or not.3

We have heard nothing here in regard to the matter you speak of with respect to recommendations concerning our officers by Foreign Officers.4 It seems to me quite incredible that any order such as you speak of should have been issued, but incredible things are done in Washington now and then.

I think the relaxation of escorts is not due to any trust in the Hun, but to positive knowledge that for the present he cannot do us any harm. How long this situation will last is of course problematical.

Very sincerely yours,

Source Note: LT, DLC-MSS, William Sims Papers, Box 47. The letter is unsigned but there is a handwritten note below the close identifying Twining as the author. Moreover, in a letter to Bayly of 3 November Sims wrote that Captain Twining had replied to Bayly’s letter of 27 October in Sims’ absence. Also the notation “CS” at the top of this letter probably refers to Chief of Staff, which was Twining’s position.